Is the Tea Party Dying?

rdowns · Jan 8, 2013, 12:07 PM

While most were able to retain their seats in the House, the recent FreeedomWorks BS and now Rasmussen tells us this.

Quote:

Views of the Tea Party movement are at their lowest point ever, with voters for the first time evenly divided when asked to match the views of the average Tea Party member against those of the average member of Congress. Only eight percent (8%) now say they are members of the Tea Party, down from a high of 24% in April 2010 just after passage of the national health care law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 30% of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party. Half (49%) of voters have an unfavorable view of the movement. Twenty-one percent (21%) are undecided.

skunk · Jan 8, 2013, 12:11 PM

With any luck.

likemyorbs · Jan 8, 2013, 12:14 PM

The conservative movement in general is dying a slow painful death. I wish it were fast and painful though.

leekohler · Jan 8, 2013, 12:29 PM

Once it was taken over by the ultra right, it was doomed.

yg17 · Jan 8, 2013, 12:38 PM

Good riddance

ugahairydawgs · Jan 8, 2013, 12:49 PM

Extreme left and extreme right movements are all destined for failure. The vast majority of people either 1.) burn out or 2.) eventually get turned off by the "extreme" views.

At the end of the day....we're a country of centrists.

Peace · Jan 8, 2013, 12:50 PM

Unfortunately we have two more years of dealing with these bozos.

Eraserhead · Jan 8, 2013, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Extreme left and extreme right movements are all destined for failure. The vast majority of people either 1.) burn out or 2.) eventually get turned off by the "extreme" views.

At the end of the day....we're a country of centrists.

Must be why the US has no extreme left politicians.

Rodimus Prime · Jan 8, 2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

Once it was taken over by the ultra right, it was doomed.

Yep. It might of started out good in theory but in the end it went to far right and went back to wanting to take away the rights of others.

Peace · Jan 8, 2013, 02:05 PM

Is the Tea Party dying ? Better question is if the Republican party is dying :

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/m...-politics.html

"The Republican Main Street Partnership, a Washington-based group that has promoted moderate GOP lawmakers and policies, will remove the word "Republican" from its title and welcome center-right Democrats in 2013, Yahoo News has learned.
The organization's board of directors voted Tuesday morning to scrap party identification from its title and be known simply as "The Main Street Partnership." The group's new president, former Ohio Republican Rep. Steven LaTourette, told Yahoo News that he plans to begin conversations with Blue Dog Democrats and centrist groups in the coming months."

Happybunny · Jan 8, 2013, 02:09 PM

It really doesn't surprise me in the slightest, nearly all protest groups which get involved with politics end the same way. A slow and steady decline in numbers over time, and an extreme fringe which will wait for the next protest group.

Only the Greens have bucked this trend in resent years, but even they became a mild reflection of what they had been as a protest group.

TSE · Jan 8, 2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

Once it was taken over by the ultra right, it was doomed.

Agreed. It initially started out as a non-party movement... Liberals, Neo-Cons, Cons, Libertarians, Socialists, etc. were all part of it.

Republican Party tried using it as an opportunity to gain support and that's when it lost all meaning.

Sydde · Jan 8, 2013, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

Must be why the US has no extreme left politicians.

Well, there is one guy from Vermont who calls himself a Socialist. Funny thing, too, the RWers scream about Obama being a dirty Socialist, but Sanders for some reason gets very little genuine hate. At least, afaics.

CSpackler · Jan 8, 2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSE

Agreed. It initially started out as a non-party movement... Liberals, Neo-Cons, Cons, Libertarians, Socialists, etc. were all part of it.

Republican Party tried using it as an opportunity to gain support and that's when it lost all meaning.

This. A lot of people don't know this. Both parties like to co-opt movements and make them powerless. Just like the left co-opted the real anti-war movement a long time ago.

Zombie Acorn · Jan 8, 2013, 03:16 PM

America is center right, Republicans aren't going anywhere. Tea party movement will probably dissolve. Obama isn't a representation of what the left wants. He's right leaning as well.

184550 · Jan 8, 2013, 04:48 PM

Who didn't realize the Tea Party was the embodiment of the term 'flash in the pan'?

Squadleader · Jan 8, 2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

Yep. It might of started out good in theory but in the end it went to far right and went back to wanting to take away the rights of others.

Ummm...You got the right political party...??

bradl · Jan 8, 2013, 06:03 PM

Somewhere up in Massachusetts, a number of unidentified people who dressed up as Indians are beginning to turn back over to their face up positions, to once again rest in peace.

BL.

APlotdevice · 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squadleader

Ummm...You got the right political party...??

Gays... Abortion... Equal pay... Minority voting... Freedom of religion beyond Christianity...

He most certainly has the right party.

Dmunjal · 06:32 PM

The Tea Party started out with the same issue as Occupy Wall Street. It was against the bailouts of the banks after the financial crisis in 2008.

What was interesting is how each was denigrated or co-opted out of existence by those currently in power.

I still maintain that if both sides were to combine their resources and focus on the issue that is the main cause of this country's problems (The Federal Reserve and the TBTF banks), we could create a third-party that could finally defeat the corrupt two-party system we have today.

I think both sides will find some common ground here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics...#ixzz2HIrDzuGl

NickZac · Jan 8, 2013, 06:43 PM

I agree the Tea Party took a similar path as the Occupy Movement, and that any time you get a party in an extreme direction in the US that it's usually an ephemeral phenomenon rather than something long term.

Perhaps the Tea Party's decline is also attributable to it's failure to reduce government spending. We have a spending problem that isn't all that different today than a few years ago. We have failed to secure a plan in which spending and revenue are the same figures.

Also, it's straying into the territory of social regulation and moral code translated to law arguably turned many conservatives and moderates off who believe the government has no business in doing this.

Rodimus Prime · Jan 8, 2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squadleader

Ummm...You got the right political party...??

The part that it start out that I agreed some what with was we were over spending in goverment. That much is true we do have a spending problem.
The problem I have with the tea party is the push to take away the rights of others and refusal to raise taxes. We need a balance aprouch to everything.

It is sad that the Tea party is anti spending money but also push against cutting defense spending.

Thomas Veil · Jan 8, 2013, 09:14 PM

Occupy had the right idea but no organization. Tea party had tremendous organization but the wrong ideas.

Is the tea party dying? Yeah, but not fast enough. And even if the "formal" party were to be disbanded tomorrow, many of their horrid ideas will remain behind.

You remember the evil vibes that still pervaded Hill House or the Overlook Hotel, long after the perpetrators were gone? Like that.

dscuber9000 · Jan 8, 2013, 10:53 PM

It's definitely not dead, just not near the political power it had three years ago. They'll still greatly influence Republican primaries, but as has been proven two elections in a row, they'll continue to be a huge liability in actual elections. Most Republican candidates will probably just Romney the Tea Party - pretend to be dark red on every issue and then be the actual candidate after the primary.

citizenzen · Jan 8, 2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dscuber9000

It's definitely not dead ...

Totally agree.

Reactionaries seem to be an ever-present subset of the population.

They aren't going away anytime soon.

Jan 8, 2013, 12:14 PM	#3
likemyorbs macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ	The conservative movement in general is dying a slow painful death. I wish it were fast and painful though. __________________ "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." ~Steve Jobs
	4

Jan 8, 2013, 12:38 PM	#5
yg17 macrumors G5 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO	Good riddance __________________ Barack Obama is not a foreign born, brown skinned, anti-war socialist who gives away healthcare. You're thinking of Jesus.
	4

Jan 8, 2013, 02:09 PM	#11
Happybunny macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 's-Hertogenbosch Netherlands	It really doesn't surprise me in the slightest, nearly all protest groups which get involved with politics end the same way. A slow and steady decline in numbers over time, and an extreme fringe which will wait for the next protest group. Only the Greens have bucked this trend in resent years, but even they became a mild reflection of what they had been as a protest group. __________________ 'You cannot undo history, but you can learn from it'
	1

Jan 8, 2013, 06:13 PM	#20
Dmunjal macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2010	The Tea Party started out with the same issue as Occupy Wall Street. It was against the bailouts of the banks after the financial crisis in 2008. What was interesting is how each was denigrated or co-opted out of existence by those currently in power. I still maintain that if both sides were to combine their resources and focus on the issue that is the main cause of this country's problems (The Federal Reserve and the TBTF banks), we could create a third-party that could finally defeat the corrupt two-party system we have today. I think both sides will find some common ground here: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics...#ixzz2HIrDzuGl Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dmunjal; Jan 8, 2013 at 06:32 PM.
	1

Jan 8, 2013, 09:14 PM	#23
Thomas Veil macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Reality	Occupy had the right idea but no organization. Tea party had tremendous organization but the wrong ideas. Is the tea party dying? Yeah, but not fast enough. And even if the "formal" party were to be disbanded tomorrow, many of their horrid ideas will remain behind. You remember the evil vibes that still pervaded Hill House or the Overlook Hotel, long after the perpetrators were gone? Like that. __________________ This is the beginning of a serious conversation. We won't be taking questions today. -- Then-NRA President David Keene
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 12:11 PM	#2
skunk macrumors G4 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Republic of Ukistan	With any luck.
	9

Jan 8, 2013, 12:29 PM	#4
leekohler Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois	Once it was taken over by the ultra right, it was doomed.
	1

Jan 8, 2013, 12:49 PM	#6
ugahairydawgs macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2010	Extreme left and extreme right movements are all destined for failure. The vast majority of people either 1.) burn out or 2.) eventually get turned off by the "extreme" views. At the end of the day....we're a country of centrists.
	4

Jan 8, 2013, 12:50 PM	#7
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	Unfortunately we have two more years of dealing with these bozos.
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 02:05 PM	#10
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	Is the Tea Party dying ? Better question is if the Republican party is dying : http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/m...-politics.html "The Republican Main Street Partnership, a Washington-based group that has promoted moderate GOP lawmakers and policies, will remove the word "Republican" from its title and welcome center-right Democrats in 2013, Yahoo News has learned. The organization's board of directors voted Tuesday morning to scrap party identification from its title and be known simply as "The Main Street Partnership." The group's new president, former Ohio Republican Rep. Steven LaTourette, told Yahoo News that he plans to begin conversations with Blue Dog Democrats and centrist groups in the coming months."
	3

Jan 8, 2013, 03:16 PM	#15
Zombie Acorn macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario	America is center right, Republicans aren't going anywhere. Tea party movement will probably dissolve. Obama isn't a representation of what the left wants. He's right leaning as well.
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 04:48 PM	#16
184550 Guest Join Date: May 2008	Who didn't realize the Tea Party was the embodiment of the term 'flash in the pan'?
	1

Jan 8, 2013, 06:03 PM	#18
bradl macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2008	Somewhere up in Massachusetts, a number of unidentified people who dressed up as Indians are beginning to turn back over to their face up positions, to once again rest in peace. BL.
	2

Jan 8, 2013, 06:43 PM	#21
NickZac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2010	I agree the Tea Party took a similar path as the Occupy Movement, and that any time you get a party in an extreme direction in the US that it's usually an ephemeral phenomenon rather than something long term. Perhaps the Tea Party's decline is also attributable to it's failure to reduce government spending. We have a spending problem that isn't all that different today than a few years ago. We have failed to secure a plan in which spending and revenue are the same figures. Also, it's straying into the territory of social regulation and moral code translated to law arguably turned many conservatives and moderates off who believe the government has no business in doing this.
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 10:53 PM	#24
dscuber9000 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana, US	It's definitely not dead, just not near the political power it had three years ago. They'll still greatly influence Republican primaries, but as has been proven two elections in a row, they'll continue to be a huge liability in actual elections. Most Republican candidates will probably just Romney the Tea Party - pretend to be dark red on every issue and then be the actual candidate after the primary. __________________ MacBook Pro 13" (Mid-2009) 2.26GHz \| 320GB, 7200RPM \| 4GB RAM 16GB iPhone 4S
	1

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